김훈 소설의 자연주의적 맥락 ― 장편 역사소설을 중심으로

Abstract

This study mainly covers Kim Hoon`s three historical novels “Song of the Sword”, “Song of Strings” and “Fortress on Mt. Namhan”. Novels having dominant aspects of naturalism are referred to as naturalistic novels; Kim Hoon's historical novels are part of this genre. His novels originate from an ontological perspective, which admit no other worlds except this natural world we live in. What is a naturalistic human? Nothing but a person who eats, excretes, and must die. From this perspective, the recalled meaning for describing a body is different between the power elite and the general public. Relatively, the description regarding the body of the power elite contributes to making the history of the civilization they are leading to be steadily fabricated. Among these histories, Kim Hoon has an unusual sensibility and consciousness towards the matter of war, because he makes it look like there is no other thing than war to reveal the evil in the world. The naturalism of Kim Hoon's realm would conclude the recognition of social evolutionism. The nation and human beings in Kim Hoon's historical novels become natural and historical, as well. Despite handling the melee of war, nothing but history should be sunken in to the scenery to weaken its vitality. Therefore, the only conflict in Kim Hoon's novels ultimately deals with is the matter of nihilism; Kim Hoon's concept of nihilism is a kind of consciousness of poverty that has nothing other than reality. Are there any particular was to escape from the poverty? It seems impossible to overcome this nihilism via an objective assessment. But at least we can fight against the nihilism. To this end, “Song of the Sword” is the furthermost from naturalism and the possibility of tragedy, based on human beings who fight their perceived fate. Similarly, this is the direction of Kim Hoon's novels to be aimed at striving against their fate.